Means for accurately setting a hinge plate in position upon a rule section or leg



July 1 7 1956 H. M. GASSTROM 2, MEANS FOR ACCURATELY SETTING A HINGE PLATE IN POSITION UPON A RULE SECTION OR LEG Filed NOV. 21, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet l y 7, 1956 H. M. GASSTROM 2,754,877 MEANS FOR ACCURATELY SETTING A HINGE PL IN POSITION U ON A RULE SECTION OR L 1950 heats sheet 2 Filed Nov 21 "Tag. 41

INVENTOPV MAN Q ROM J ATTORNEY.

BY M

MEANS FOR ACCURATELY SETTING A HINGE PLATE IN POSITION UPON A RULE SECTION OR LEG Herman M. Gasstrom, Pelham, N. Y.

Application November 21, 1950, Serial No. 196,810

13 Claims. (Cl. 153-1) This invention relates to means for accurately guiding hinge plates into position upon the individual legs of folding rules and the like.

The main object of my invention is to provide means for effecting the accurate positioning of hinge plates upon folding rule members preparatory to clinching the plates in position thereon.

Another object is to provide such means for properly placing and holding the hinge plates against displacement when the same plates are being clinched into permanent association with the rule members involved.

The overall object of the invention is to ensure the accurate permanent disposition of metal plates upon rule legs which are hinged together in such fashion that these members when folded together will be located accurately in line one above the other.

An ancillary object is to facilitate manufacture of fold ing rules at high speed without sacrificing quality in the product.

Other objects and the advantages of my invention will appear in further detail as the specification proceeds.

In order to facilitate ready comprehension of this invention for properly appreciating the salient features thereof, the invention is illustrated on the accompanying drawings forming part hereof, and in which:

Figure l is a vertical section through a die for cutting free a hinge plate and accurately positioning the same upon a rule leg, the latter being shown in operative position in the die;

Figure 2 is a top or plan View of the same die and the rule leg being shown as extending rearwardly from the die;

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view of the die block which effects the final cutting free of the hinge plate as per Figures 1 and 2;

Figure 4 is a transverse section of the punch of the die block shown in Figures 1 and 3;

Figure 5 is an enlarged plan view of a sheet plate of Figures 1 and 2;

Figure 6 is a transverse section through the hinge plate of Figure 5 as taken on line 6-6;

Figure 7 is an enlarged fragmentary section of the die structure of Figure 2 as taken on line 7-7;

Figure 8 is a further section of the rule leg similar to that shown in Figure 7 but with the side edges of the hinge plate clinched, the section being taken on line 88 in Figure 9;

Figure 9 is a plan View on an enlarged scale of the rule leg of Figures 7 and 8 showing the hinge plate fixed in position;

Figure 10 is an enlarged fragmentary view to Figure 3 showing a modification of the die block of said Figure 3;

Figure 11 is a transverse section of a punch fitting the die block of Figure 10;

Figure 12 is another modification of the die block of Figure 3;

metal hinge nited States Patent Figure 13 is a transverse section of a punch fitting the die block of Figure 12;

Figure 14 is a further modification of the die block of Figure 3;

Figure 15 is a transverse section of a punch fitting the die block of Figure 14;

Figure 16 is yet another modification of die block; while Figure 17 is a transverse section of the punch serving to co-operate therewith.

Throughout the views, the same reference numerals indicate the same or like parts.

In folding rules, particularly those in which the individual rule sections or legs swivel at the ends upon the adjacent sections, appearance of the rule when folded is of importance, as the same imparts the impression of accuracy or inaccuracy of the rule as a whole. For example, when the folded sections are askew with respect to each other and do not form a perfectly straight assemblage, with one section slightly off to one side and the next just a little off to the other side, the rule looks irregular and anything but reliable. This is true despite the fact that when this is discounted by salesmen, the rule is also not straight when extended and therefor altered in length and actually inaccurate. Thus, the appearance is an index of the accuracy of the folding rule, not to mention that an irregular folded rule looks old or used and is thus undesirable from every standpoint, including also lack of sales appeal. Upon considering this problem, it has occurred to me that when the rule sections appear relatively askew, this is obviously a matter of slightly inaccurate placing and setting of the hinge plates on the rule sections during manufacture. In order to remedy this condition, I have designed special dies and hinge plates co-operating with the dies to ensure absolutely accurate location of the plates on each rule section, so that all sections will lie directly over each other when folded and the rule straight when extended.

Hence, in the practice of my invention, and referring again to the drawings, on a press having a die shoe 1 is secured a die block 2 having an upright cavity generally indicated at 3 extending a limited distance down into the die and having a side passage or outlet 4 along the bottom of the cavity, forming a supporting station for a rule section. An extension 6 upon the die block continues the bottom of the cavity as an open upper surface for supporting objects, as will be explained in detail later on.

Upon die block 2 is formed a substantially horizontal feeding passage 7 by a pair of side Walls 8 and 9 secured to the die in any desired manner known in the art. These side walls form guidesfor a spring pad 10 and at least the lower block 11 of a die holder 12, the die holder assembly 11 and 12 serving to support and operate a hinge plate punch or plunger 13. The latter is held at the upper end by a flange 14 recessed into the lower member 11 of the die holder assembly. Normally, the spring pad 10 is spaced a predetermined distance down from the holder member 11 by one or more springs 15 surrounding a guide pin 16 extending slidably through die holder assembly member 12. The spring in each case likewise extends entirely through a clearance bore 17 in holder member 11 and presses directly upon spring pad 10 into which the lower threaded end 18 of guide pin is screwed so that the pin follows the movements of pad 10. At the upper extremity of the guide pin is an integral head 19 recessed in a short open bore 20 in upper holder member 12, allowing the head to rise in the bore when pad 10 is caused to approach the die holder assembly.

The punch 13 terminates just short of the lower surface of spring pad 10 and is provided with a central pilot pin 21 of conical form. The upper surface 22 of die 2 is adapted to support a fiat strip of sheet metal such as brass or steel indicated at 23 between walls 8 and 9 in such fashion that the strip may be fed through passage 7 toward cavity 3. When the press is operated so that dieholder assembly 11 and 12 with punch 13 descends, spring pad first engages upon the strip 23 and holds it firm until the punch makes contact with the strip and cuts through and then descends through cavity 3 in die 2.

The metal strip 23 is cut in preliminary fashion as shown at 24 before being cut loose at the ends of each plate section 25 and brought down by the punch upon a rule section or leg 26 extending into the bottom of cavity 3 of the die through a rear passage 27. The pilot pin first engages in center hole 28 and then the punch 13 cuts the plate 25 free at the ends 29, 29 by its cutting ends 30, 30 which co-operate in shearing fashion with the die ends 31, 31. The plate is provided with side flanges 32, 32 already formed before the cutting off operation by a previous step which forms no part of the present invention.

As may best be seen in Figures 2, 5 and 6 to 9, not only a center hole 28 and side flanges 32, 32 are previously provided upon the partly cut portion 24 of the metal strip 23, but a group of perforations 33, 33, etc., are punched through the same to form locating points adapted to project into the wood or other body material of the rule section or leg 26. When the metal plate 25 is thus cut free from the strip and pushed down through the die 2 it is forced into intimate contact with rule leg or section 26, thus forcing the projections or points 33 into the leg and setting the plate in desired accurate position. However, in order to ensure such accurate setting of the plate on the rule leg, the plate is cut or profiled in a very special manner and form from the metal strip.

Die 2 in its cavity is formed at the ends 31, 31 with a pair of shoulders 34, 34 with which corresponding shoulders 35, 35 upon punch 13 co-operate to cut guiding shoulders 36, 36 at each end of plate 25, these guiding shoulders when cut by punch 13 slide down along die shoulders 34, 34 and are positively guided during the entire travel of the plate downwards toward the rule leg and until the points 33 are actually embedded in the leg. Thus, the accurate disposition of hinge plate 25 is preserved and directly applied to rule section 26 without any shift of plate 25 being possible in lateral directions from the moment when the plate is cut free and its forcible placing upon the rule leg at the bottom of cavity 3. Of course, with the plate 25 in direct contact with this rule leg after being pressed thereon by punch 13, no shift laterally with respect to the rule leg Will then occur, because the locating points 33 extend into the material of the leg and serve as prongs which occupy seats which they have formed in the leg by pressure of punch 13.

When the plate has thus definitely been placed on the rule section or leg, the latter is passed out upon extension 6 of the die through passage 5, so that this rule leg rests out upon the surface 5 for a side clinching operation partly represented at the right in Figure 1. As the rule leg is passed out from the interior of die 2, the side flanges 32, 32 of plate 25 are yet in preliminary divergent position as best seen in Figures 1, and 5 to 7. Exteriorly of the cutting zone of the die are a pair of clamping members 37, 37 operatively brought together in known manner by means not shown, as such means form no part of the invention as such. The result is that the side flanges are clinched into clamping relation with the rule leg. A presser foot or plunger 38 is preferably brought down upon the plate during this operation to hold the hinge plate in place.

The rule section or leg when thus provided with accurately placed and clinched plates at the ends is then ready for assembling with other rule sections in such manner as to build up a complete folding rule. Due to the method and means already described for ensuring accurate placing of the hinge plates in each case on the rule sections, all of the latter will accurately overlie each other in a straight column in such fashion as to appear clean cut and accurate.

Naturally, certain modifications may be resorted to by altering the guide means used upon the hinge plates, as for example, in Figures 10 and 11 are shown a die 39 with an opening 40 with a punch 41 adapted to cooperate therewith. Die 39 has end cutting portions 42, 42 with which cutting ends 43, 43 of punch 41 co-operate, while the die has end guides or substantially square grooves 44, 44 with which corresponding end ribs 45, 45 on the punch co-operate to form guide projections of substantially square form upon the ends of hinge plates for the rule sections involved.

Then again, as shown in Figures 12 and 13, a die 46 has a punch 47 with which it co-operates, being provided in its cutting ends 43, 48 with guide grooves 49, 49 in each case. The punch upon its ends 50, 50 has two pairs of guide projections 51, 51 fitting the grooves 49, 49 of die 46 and will, of course provide a hinge plate with corresponding guide projections upon the ends thereof.

Also, as shown in Figures 14 and 15, the die 52 is adapted to co-operate with a punch 53 and the cutting ends thereof at 54, 54 co-operate in shearing manner with the ends 55, 55 of the punch. In this case, a single guide projection 56 is formed interiorly on the die at each end 54, while the punch has a corresponding guiding groove 57 at each end 55. The projections 56, 56 and corresponding grooves 57, 57 cut single guide notches in the ends of hinge plates in obvious manner.

In Figures 16 and 17 a die 58 is adapted to have a punch 59 co-operate therewith and upon its cutting ends 60, 60 is provided with inwardly projecting guide ribs of substantially rectangular form at 61, 61 fitting corresponding grooves 62, 62 in the ends 63, 63 of punch 39 and forming corresponding rectangular notches in the ends of the hinge plates which are cut free from the fiat stock or the like by this die and punch couple.

The hinge plates cut free and profiled at the ends thereof by these modifications of die 2 and punch 13 are superfluous to show, as they must resemble hinge plate 25, except for the profiled guide means cut at the ends of the plate by the dies and punches of Figures 10 to 17 inclusive in obvious manner. In each case, the purpose and result are the same, namely, to so form and guide a hinge plate into accurately placed position upon a rule section preparatory to permanently securing the hinge plate thereon, so that when the flanges of the hinge plate are clinched upon said rule section, the position of said hinge plate will be preserved accurate.

Manifestly, other variations than those mentioned may be resorted to, and parts and features may be omitted or used without others within the scope of the appended claims.

Hence, having now fully described my invention, I claim:

1. Means for accurately setting a swivel hinge plate in position upon a section or leg of a folding rule, including a profile die having a cavity for receiving a hinge plate, a rigid internal supporting station within said die at the bottom of the cavity for fixedly supporting a rule section or leg, the upper or outer surface of said die forming a cutting zone, two end cutting portions in said die spaced apart and serving to cut free the ends of the hinge plate, pairs of shoulders spaced apart in said end cutting portions extending through said cavity toward said internal supporting station, said die also having a transverse open passage leading into said cavity for inserting the rule section in position upon said internal supporting station for receiving the hinge plate, a punch operable to project into said cavity and force the hinge plate into contact with said rule section, cutting ends upon opposite portions of the punch co-operating with the end cutting portions upon the cutting zone of said die, pairs of cutting shoulders spaced apart upon said punch corresponding to the pairs of shoulders in the end cutting portions of said die and co-operating therewith to cut end guide portions in said hinge plate when the latter is out free so that said guide portions of said hinge plate slide in guiding contact with the shoulders extending through the cavity in said die under impulse of said punch in guided manner, and means for supporting said die during movement of said punch.

2. Means for accurately setting a swivel hinge plate in position upon a rule section or leg of a folding rule preparatory to permanently securing said hinge plate in place thereon, which means include a cutting die having a cavity extending into the same from one surface thereof forming a cutting Zone, a rigid internal supporting station in said die at the bottom of said cavity for supporting a rule section in position for receiving the hinge plate, said die having a transverse open passage leading into said cavity and said internal supporting station for inserting the rule section, two opposite end cutting portions in said die form-ends of said cavity having pairs of substantially parallel guide means spaced apart in each portion extending through said cavity from the cutting zone toward said internal supporting station, a. punch operable to project into said cavity and force the hinge plate into contact with said rule section when the latter is located upon said internal supporting station, cutting ends upon opposite portions of the punch co-operating with the end cutting portions upon said die to cut the hinge plate free from flat stock or the like pairs of substantially parallel, guide cutting portions upon the cutting ends of said punch cooperating with said pairs of guide means in the cavity of said die to cut end guide means upon the ends of said hinge plate when the latter is out free so that said end guide means upon said hinge plate slide in guiding contact with the guide means in said die extending through the cavity thereof under impulse of said punch, and means for supporting said die during movement of said plunger.

3. The product of the die and punch according to claim 2, which includes the hinge plate which has the ends thereof extending outward in opposite directions with cut end guide means spaced apart and fitting the guide means in the end portions of the cavity in the die.

4. The product of the die and punch of claim 2, which includes a partly preformed hinge plate which has the ends thereof extending outward in substantially the same plane in opposite directions, and pair of end guide means spaced apart and cut in the profile of the ends of said hinge plate fitting the pairs of guide means in the end portions of the cavity in the die.

5. Means according to claim 2, wherein the guide means in the cutting end portions of the cavity upon the die include a pair of equal opposite shoulders in each end with the sides thereof spaced apart, and the corresponding guide cutting portion upon each end of the punch comprise a pair of equal cutting shoulders cooperating with the shoulders in the die to cut corresponding profile guide portions upon the ends of the hinge plate for the rule section or leg.

6. Means according to claim 5, wherein the shoulders 6 in the end cutting portions of the cavity upon the die and the corresponding shoulders upon the punch are spaced widely apart to form a wide end portion therebetween in each case.

7. Means according to claim 5, wherein the shoulders in the end cutting portions of the cavity upon the die and the corresponding shoulders upon the punch are spaced only a short distance apart to form a narrow projecting end portion therebetween in each case.

8. Means according to claim 2, wherein the guide means in the cutting end portions of the cavity upon the die form at least one concave arcuate groove extending through the cavity at each end and the corresponding guide cutting portions upon the punch include arcuately convex ribs individually disposed upon the cutting ends of said punch and fitting in the grooves in said cavity.

9. Means according to claim 8, wherein each cutting end portion of the cavity in the die has two concave grooves spaced apart and the corresponding guide cutting portions upon the punch include two convex ribs spaced apart upon each cutting end portion thereof in effective position to register with the grooves in the cutting end portions of said cavity.

10. Means according to claim 2, wherein the guide means in the cutting end portions of the cavity of the die include an internal rib upon each end extending through said cavity, and the corresponding guide cutting portions upon the punch include a groove formed in each of the end cutting portions of said punch registering with the ribs upon the ends of the cavity in said die.

11. Means according to claim 10, wherein the rib upon each cutting end of the cavity of the die is substantially rectangular in section and the corresponding groove in each cutting end of the punch is likewise substantially rectangular in section.

12. Means according to claim 10, wherein the rib upon each cutting end of the cavity of the die is substantially arcuate in section and the corresponding groove in each cutting end of the punch is likewise arcuate in section.

13. Means according to claim 2, wherein the guide means in the cutting end portions of the cavity upon the die include profile portions of predetermined section and the corresponding guide cutting portions upon the punch include corresponding profile portions of substantially the same predetermined section as in the case of the cavity in said die.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,211,458 Leavens Jan. 9, 1917 1,506,535 Kotzich Aug. 26, 1924 2,047,337 Sutton July 14, 1936 2,120,711 Phillips June 4, 1938 2,169,802 Keller Aug. 15, 1939 2,197,076 Groene et a1. Apr. 16, 1940 2,238,702 McIntosh Apr. 15, 1941 2,254,117 Keller Aug. 26, 1941 2,310,177 Horton Feb. 2, 1943 2,364,574 Wales Dec. 5, 1944 2,433,607 Hallock Dec. 30, 1947 2,526,802 Carlile Oct. 24, 1950 

